At the start of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation looked to be one of their strengths, but as the campaign has progressed it has become a source of uncertainty. The recent debacle of Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Milwaukee highlighted the delicate moment that the bullpen is experiencing, which generates many doubts in the team for the second half of the schedule.
Although the team remains at the top of the National League West, there are warning signs: four consecutive losses, an offense that has stopped producing runs and a very limited rotation that depends on the starters. This situation could lead Dave Roberts to make the decision to accelerate the recovery of Shohei Ohtani.
What about the Dodgers’ rotation? Yamamoto fails and Glasnow returns in the midst of a crisis
Since the start of the season, the Dodgers have been very cautious with Ohtani, who is returning from his second surgery. So far he has only pitched six innings in four starts. It is true that his progress has been promising, but slow.
In rehabilitation, it is essential to go step by step
All these step-by-step plans could be affected if the rest of the rotation continues to fail and more losses pile up and that would bring pressure for the Japanese to take a more active role from the mound. For such an important decision, the Dodgers will have to consider the $700 million investment they made in his new contract.
Are the Dodgers in a slump or facing a real crisis in the 2025 season?
For now, the Angels are still at the top of the National League and have their offense led by Ohtani that has kept them above the rest of the teams. However, this situation could change quickly if losses continue to pile up and pitching does not resolve.
Shohei was brought to the Dodgers as the face of a new era, but injuries have hampered his participation on the mound and his recovery process could be brought forward by all the casualties. In this situation, Dave Roberts will have to be very analytical and decide what is best for the team in the current campaign and for the future.
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